Student Health Insurance and Waiver Information

Student Financial Services at Gallaudet University will manage all correspondence related to health insurance such as billing, managing the health insurance purchase and waiver process, collecting private health insurance cards, corresponding with Gallaudet's health insurance company and any other issues pertaining to the health insurance process. According to Gallaudet University policy, comprehensive health insurance coverage is mandatory for all full-time undergraduate, full-time graduate students, international and ELI students. All are required to show proof of health insurance during registration.

Incoming freshmen students and new graduate students - The health insurance waiver and purchase process will be included in the mandatory online business registration for incoming freshman during New Student Orientation and for new graduate students during Graduate Student Orientation.

Returning students - The health insurance waiver and purchase process will be included in the mandatory online business registration period before the start of the semester.

Voluntary enrollment - Part-time students are not required to have health insurance. However, if you are a part-time student and would like to enroll in the Gallaudet Student Health Plan, you will need to purchase the plan through your Bison account during Online Business Registration. The enrollment deadline for purchasing insurance is listed below.

Purchase Gallaudet's Health Insurance

If you are a full-time student and do not have insurance, you will need to purchase Gallaudet's health insurance plan. You must purchase your insurance by May 19, 2014 for summer 2014, August 25, 2014 for fall 2014 and no later than January 20, 2015 for Spring 2015. The insurance rates for the each semester and the timeline that it covers is listed below on the table "Health Insurance Information". To submit your health insurance purchase request, you will need to access your Bison account during Online Business Registration. Bison is Gallaudet University's Information Portal for all students (i.e. class schedule, grade reports, financial aid, health insurance, online business registration and student accounts etc.). The website to access Bison Self Service is bison.gallaudet.edu. Once you have opened this link to access your account, you will need to enter your User Name (first name.last name) and your Password.

How to Purchase the Health Insurance

You must submit the health insurance purchase request online through your Bison account during Online Business Registration. Please click on Self Service, then Online Business Registration, then Student Health Insurance. On the left hand side of the screen select purchase form. Please complete all the required information.

Confirmation that your Purchase Request has been received

Once you have submitted your health insurance purchase request through Bison during Online Business registration, you will receive a confirmation email. The email will be sent to the email address that you entered on the purchase request form.

Waive Gallaudet's Health Insurance

If you want to request a health insurance waiver, it must be done no later than May 19, 2014 for summer 2014, August 25, 2014 for fall 2104 and no later than January 20, 2015 for spring 2015. If Student Financial Services does not receive all of your private health insurance information by the deadline, your student account will be automatically billed for the health insurance premium. If you have additional questions or concerns about your insurance, please feel free to contact us directly at (202) 651-5145 (voice), 202-250-2453 (VP) or email us at student.accounts@gallaudet.edu .

To submit your health insurance waiver request, you will need to access your Bison account during Online Business Registration. Bison is Gallaudet University's Information Portal for all students (i.e. class schedule, grade reports, financial aid, health insurance, online business registration and student accounts etc.). The website to access Bison Self Service is bison.gallaudet.edu. Once you have opened this link to access your account, you will need to enter your User Name (first name.last name) and your Password.

How to waive the health insurance

Applying for a health insurance waiver is a two-step process. You must complete both steps before your insurance is waived.

You must submit the health insurance waiver request online through your Bison account during Online Business Registration. Please click on Self Service, then Online Business Registration, then Student Health Insurance. On the left hand side of the screen select waiver form. Please complete all the required information.

You must also attach a scanned copy of the front and back of your health insurance card with your student ID duringOnline Business Registration. Your health insurance will not be waived unless you complete both steps of the health insurance waiver process. If you have any questions, please email us at student.accounts@gallaudet.edu.

Confirmation that your Waiver Request has been Received/Accepted or Declined

Once you have submitted your health insurance waiver request through Bison and Online Business registration, you will receive two emails.

The first email will be sent to the email address that you entered informing you that your health insurance waiver request has been received successfully and it will be reviewed.

You will also receive a second email verifying whether your waiver has been approved or denied.

Enrollment of Family Members

If you want to enroll family members, please contact University Health Plans directly by calling 1-800-437-6448. Additional information concerning the health insurance plan is available at the following website: www.universityhealthplans.com.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Your private health insurance card must be valid and current (must be accepted for use in Washington D.C. metropolitan area including Maryland and Virginia), comparable to Gallaudet's student health insurance. Gallaudet can accept Medicaid from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia as well as Medicare Part A and B.

If your insurance card is deemed as unacceptable or your private insurance carrier declines your coverage, you will be responsible for paying for your health care expenses that you may incur and health insurance costs. Please be sure to verify your coverage in the DC metropolitan area with your private health insurance carrier before you submit your waiver request.

Your waiver request will not be processed by Gallaudet if you do not provide a copy of your private health insurance card online during registration before the semester starts. You will be charged for the health insurance if your card is not acceptable or if you have not submitted your request for a wavier successfully.

Every registered full-time student is eligible to use Student Health Services (SHS). Students are charged a $125.00 health fee per semester with tuition. The $125.00 health fee is not to be confused with health insurance. Certain charges are not included in the $125.00 health fee, i.e. medication, vaccinations, and laboratory tests. For a complete list of charges not included in the SHS student health fee, please contact SHS directly. A fee is charged to anyone who is not a registered student. Fees for services at SHS are billed directly to the student's account at Student Financial Services